Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-22
WRECKED IN PORT.
How Drunken Miners Got Away
with n ships Cargo.

away DICK Ill tllc lutl'S, WITH mtii
were hurying to the mines In the wild
race for gold which followed the dis
covery Of the precious metal near SUIT
ter'smill, fortunes were sometimes made
in San Francisco with n rapidity which
astonished even the lucky miners. who
after big strike came to the city to
squander their winnings. Sometimes the
suddenly.acquired wealth was the result
of lucky stroke Of speculation in some
commodity of which there happened to
be a dearth in the market, and some
times it was brought about by far
sighted combinations Of careful, con-
servative businessmen. Everybody
was on the watch for an opportunity to
grasp the golden opportunity which
might come to any one ct moments
notice. Among those who were thus
waiting for that tide in the affairs of
men which taken at the flood leads on
to fortune was Captain William Grit
fifth, now one of the capitalists OF the
city.
Captain Griffith at the time was the
owner Of little tug boat called the
Resolute. The craft would make a fair
sized launch for the large and powerful
steamers which now DO the towing on
the bay, and With her small engines aud
diminutive wheel could not cope sue
cessfully with the strong tides which
set through the Golden Gate, especially
with a large ship at the other end OF the
hawser.
All OF the Captains capital was in
vested in the ting, and he and his chief
assistant, Captain William Diedrick-
son, or sold Captain Bill, " as the tug
men and ship-owners call him, were on
watch day and night to turn IN honest
penny. 1t was hard grubbing, how
ever, and the owner was often hard
pressed to find the money to nay the
running expenses of the steamer
On stormy day in February OF 1854,
when the wind was blowing n gale from
the northeast and I'll the shipping in
port was as safe and comfortable as
| good ground tackle could make them,
and the sea on the bar was 50 heavy
that there seemed but little probability
of any inward d-bouud ship attempting
to make the harbor the little Resoute
steamed down the bay toward the gate
in the hope that something would turn
up which might give her job. For
several hours she lay tossing in the
choppine sea in the channel until late
in the afternoon a large ship was seen
beating in against the wind, helped by
the last oi the foodtide. The craft was
well handled, and in a short time
crossed the bar and began series Of
short tacks to bring her inside the
heads.
From her rig and signals she was
made out to lie the ship North Ameri-
ca, frcm New York, laden with gene
ral cargo, valued at nearly $jO0,000.
Everything went well until the vessel
was nearly opposite Fort Point, when,
by some error Of judgment or the con
fusion and excitement caused by the
rapid work OF handling such a large
craft in such q narrow channel, the
pilot ordered the helm up instead OF
down, and the ship wore instead OF
coming about in stays. She whirled
like top, and with the speed of an
express train on a down grade dashed
across the narrow expanse Of water for
the opposite shore. Before she could
be got fairly under command the short
distance bad been traversed, and the
good ship North America was making
q vain attempt TO bore a hole in Point
Diablo with her iibboom.
The watchers on the Resolute az
once steamed TO the rescue as the crew
were seen to rush at once to the boats,
and it was evident that the ship had
been seriously damaged and WAS about
to be abandoned. Before the tug reach
ed the ship, which was drifting rapidly
out to sea before the gale, the boats
were seen to put of, loaded with TIE
crew, and the ship was left a waif on the
ocean. As the tugs passed the boats
the crew was hailed and urged to re-
turn and attempt TO rescue the vessel.
They finally agreed to go back, but as
soon az they came alongside the men
and officers started for cabin and fore
castle, and a wild scramble to save per-
sonal effects began. AS soon as the
boats were loaded with all they could
safely carry they were again manned
and officers and crew abandoned her
to her fate.
Here was o chance for fortune such
as seldom comes to a man, and Captain
Griffith determined to make an effort to
secure il. The ship and cargo could
not be worth less than $3.50, 900, and
the salvage of such a sum would give
the owner of the rescuing tug for
tune such as he had never i'll his most
sanouine moments hoped to possess.
With all possible speed a hawser was
GOT out TO the wrecked ship, and then
began a protracted struggle of the lit
| tie steamer against the wind. The tide
had stopped running, and slowly the
little craft gained against the gale until
she was fairly within the narrower por-
ton of the channel. Visions of wealth
fIoated before the Captains eyes, and
the duh skies, filed with masses OF
ersy clouds, seemed exceedingly rosy
| TO him.
Unfortunately, about this time the
tide began to run out and the tug and
her tow became stationary. AS the tide
became stronger the advance was
changed to retrograde movement. II
was not long before it became evident
that the Resolute and the ship, which
was sinking rapidly, would be carried
out 10 sea, and that il any part OF the
cargo was to be saved she must be
beached at some point close at hand.
Just outside Of Point Diablo is 0
small cave with deep water close in te
the beach. The tug made fast along
side of the ship, and in short time RAJ
her hard and fast on the shelving shor,
OF the cave aud left her there. :
The news OF the wreck and the posi-
tion Of the ship was soon noises
| .t.-...x1, Aha ff,u,, and bafaro davl,orb